Up From Slavery – Part 2
by marikoy on September 27th, 2011
filed under Political Science, Service, Thoughts, books
(Once again, a re-post from my participation in The Novel Challenge)
Have you ever read a book so good that you don’t want to rush through it but want to savor each sentence and memorize several favorite statements from it?
That’s what’s happening with Up From Slavery. I’ve been reading it on the bus, on the train, at home and at work. Booker T. Washington certainly lived his life to the fullest. I suppose anyone reading his autobiography would be ashamed falling short of his standards.
Up From Slavery
by Booker T. Washington
Dignity of labor is so often emphasized. Booker was a man who knew how to work… really knew how to work. In fact, it was his ability to really work that helped transform him from an illiterate ex-slave, to one of the most respected educators of his time.
He also mentioned that people study too much books, but it would be a lot helpful if instead of doing so, they study people and things. Well, Mr. Washington, I suppose you’ll be glad to know I’m studying the life of a great man like you, than some silly romantic novel.
Oh, I’m so aching to head to the library and borrow more interesting books after this, even though there’s Agatha Christie’s “Murder On The Orient Express” waiting on the dresser for me to pick up and begin reading one of these days.
Murder On The Orient Express
by Agatha Christie
Up From Slavery
by marikoy on September 24th, 2011
filed under Australia, Political Science, Service, Travel, books
(A re-post from my participation in The Novel Challenge)
I have a confession to make. I haven’t finished reading this book today. 
It has been a busy day for me at work, so I haven’t had as much time to read the book, although I was able to read several pages.
The first few lines of the book amused me, yet at the same time, I felt sorry for those who had been in slavery. Booker T. Washington, who wrote the book, was born a slave. One might find it funny when he said that he knew not the date of his birth but supposed that he must have been born sometime somehow. But again, you can also feel sorry for him. Imagine not having birthday parties like most fortunate kids nowadays!
One might feel sorry for Negro slaves upon reading Booker’s book, but you’d also admire them. You’ll learn what great hearts they have, to the point of willingly risking their lives just to save their masters’ families. You’ll learn that even though they are slaves, living in the most miserable conditions and serving without salaries, yet they love the people they serve in the most unselfish manner.
If you haven’t read Up From Slavery, you should grab a copy as soon as you can and read it. I highly recommend it. Some of the greatest lessons in life are in this book.
I hope I’ll have enough time to finish it tomorrow. 
And Then There Were None
by marikoy on September 23rd, 2011
filed under Australia, Service, books
(A re-post from my participation in The Novel Challenge)
Good day folks! It’s day two of my participation in The Novel Challenge fund raising project for people with multiple sclerosis and I’m enjoying it!
As you know, on Day One I started reading an Agatha Christie novel entitled And Then There Were None. Well, guess what? Today, I finished reading it.
It’s a 317-page book with… I don’t know how many words. I started reading it last Saturday. Then, I took a break on Sunday and never opened the book. Then this morning, I continued reading while riding the train to work.
What’s the story about?
It tells of eight different kinds of people invited to the popular and exciting Soldier Island, where a modern house was built by the original millionaire owner. There, they met the two servants, who inform them that the host and hostess were delayed and would be arriving in the island a day later. But before the next morning came, two were already dead. One by one slowly died mysteriously, and the remaining became more fearful and wondered who the murderer was. There were just ten of them in that island, and no boat came for days, which meant the murderer was one of them. But who?
When they were all killed, the boat came the next day and the dead bodies were found and investigated. But the puzzle was too carefully planned out by the murderer that the men investigating the case never solved it. The murderer was only revealed upon discovery of a confession letter, found quite some time later.
This was the first Agatha Christie book I have ever read. I’ve only heard of her name before, but only became curious when I learned that billions of copies of her books have been sold all over the world. Wow! She must be very good. Now, I agree. You’ll never know who the murderer is until the very last part of the book. It’s simply amazing how Agatha planned and penned it.
With Book #1 done, I’m off to Book #2… How about Up From Slavery, by Booker T. Washington? I still have a few Agatha Christie books that I’ve never read, but I don’t want to read one crime novel after another. It might brainwash me into an evil person or something. Hahaha!
Anyway, Up From Slavery is going to be a re-read for me, because I’ve already read it some years ago. I remember it as a very good book, lots of wise lessons in it and I’ll be sure to share with you some of the lines I love best in it.
